Something to hold Bruce's fans over while we are away on vacation :) Here's some more video of Bruce playing on his gym mat. He's gotten a lot more interactive. Grabbing, pushing, and pulling on the hanging toys and he's "talking" a lot more.
One of my favorite times with Bruce is waking him up in the morning. It's fun to release him from his swaddle as he welcomes the day with a big smile and a really good, full body stretch. He then loves to watch his mobile and say good morning to his crib friends. Keeps him happy for a long while (though this kid is almost always happy). He's so good to us, we love you Brucie.
This past weekend Bruce took his first trip to Connecticut to visit our good friends Valerie, Matt and their daughter Avery. Matt and Valerie recently moved to New Haven to begin their professorships at Yale University. It was really neat to see their place and lab set ups!
We were also very excited to be able to visit that particular weekend as it was Avery's 3rd birthday. And Bruce got to go to his first birthday party (which, of course, he mostly slept through...oh Bruce). Bruce had a lot of fun playing with Avery and was sad to leave. He did really well in the car too. The trip took about 5 hrs going up early Saturday morning and about 6ish coming back Sunday afternoon. We stopped just once going up and twice coming back for Bruce to eat and get changed, but pretty much he slept the whole way. Here are some fun photos from the trip:
(Bruce getting ready for our Church picnic which had a western theme)
Here's a little update on the last couple weeks and some cute photos to share!
Deanna started back at work on June 1st. Her coworkers have given her a very warm welcome back and she is glad to be back in the swing of things there. Lots to catch up on.
With this has also come Bruce's transition to nanny care. We have been working with a very nice woman from the area named Lorraine who takes care of Bruce at the house during work hours. Lorraine has been teaching us lots of good childcare tips and has Bruce on a good exercise program including tummy time and leg and arm stretches. He actually likes to be on his tummy now and doesn't kick and scream whenever you put him on his stomach any more. Lorraine's son Ian also comes to our home from time to time and he and Bruce are becoming good buddies. Ian likes to read Elmo books to Bruce and is teaching him good manners.
Other fun milestones: Bruce is starting to grab things on purpose now (including his pacifier and his little blankie Leon, see the photos below). He also got a new toy, a little ball that he likes to hold and let it run down his legs (makes him very giggly). Bruce is also getting very close to rolling over on his own. Stay tuned!
Bruce celebrated Memorial Day and his cousin Sarah's 1st Birthday(!) with a picnic in Newark, Delaware. We had fried chicken, chili, watermelon, cake, and lots of yummy side dishes. Bruce got to meet and spend time with his Great Aunts and Uncles and lots of cousins from Deanna's Dad's side of the family. We were happy that some of the Heier's could join us this year as well. Bruce also got to meet some of his Angel Grandma's friends, "Aunt" Barbara, Mrs Stone and their kids and grandkids and after the picnic he met "Aunt" Lina and "Uncle" Frank who of course sent us home with some very yummy pasta that she whipped up in like 10 minutes (God, we love that woman!).
This was Bruce's first picnic and his first time in Delaware. He did pretty well. Only had one meltdown, which was not even that bad. It got a little too hot and sweaty for him, so his Dada took him into the car with the AC running for a little bit, but then he was back and ready for some more arms to hold him. Will be neat to see him at the picnic next year walking/running around with his cousins.
Bruce and Pop Pop
Cousins Eric and Sarah Pusey
Bruce with his Great Uncle Tom (it's tough to find a photo of Tom since he's always taking the pictures, this is a really nice one!)
Bruce with his Great Aunt Julie
Bruce with his cousin Scott. Bruce is looking forward to learning all about baseball cards from you Scotty!
The girlies: Deanna, Lena and Rhonda
Future's so bright, he's gotta wear shades!
Thanks to the Heinemann's for these awesome sunglasses
I think Bruce likes picnics :) See you at next year's picnic!
In honor of his 3 month birthday, we've put together a few Bruce Fun Facts to share:
Bruce was born on March 5th (1 day before his Dada's birthday and 6 months before his Mama's birthday; Robb's birthday is also 6 months before Grandma Heier's birthday!)
Bruce is completely obsessed with his hands. Lately you can find them either in prayer position (good boy) or in his mouth (usually fisted and both at the same time).
Touching Bruce's nose makes him smile and giggle. (We'll try to get a video of that one)
Bruce absolutely loves his car seat and being in the car. He almost instantly stops fussing and usually falls asleep. However, he hates red lights (when the car stops). This does not bode well for our car insurance premiums once he hits driving age.
Bruce likes to constantly be moving (rocking, swinging, bouncing). We call him Bruce the Shark (like the shark from the movie Nemo), since sharks are always moving.
No matter where Bruce is in his feeding/sleeping cycle, with almost complete certainty, Bruce will fuss as soon as his Dada sits down to eat. Lately he's joined us at the dinner table which he seems to like.
For the first 2 months, Bruce slept swaddled, in a vibrating bouncy seat, that sat in a bassinet, that is part of a pack n play, in our room. How we got that set up I really can't remember, but anything that keeps a baby sleeping you go with it. He now sleeps in his room, in his crib, still swaddled.
Bruce is a very noisy sleeper. Often times it sounded like the National Zoo in our room with loud elephant trumpets and piggy grunts all coming from one very little sleeping boy.
For Bruce, the noisier the better when it comes to sleepy time. He loves the Church organ and falls asleep listening to white noise Ocean Waves coming from his Sleep Sheep or Dada's iPod.
Bruce loves to look at himself in the mirror. And really, with a face like that, I can't blame him. Enjoy the pics! (I couldn't decide on just one or two, so you get them all :)
Bruce sitting up on his own for his photo (otherwise entitled, "are we doing this again?")
Roughly 5 seconds later...
Dada, what are you doing?
Oh, that's kind of funny
Oh, that's hillarious Dada!
Bruce on his tummy (he's liking it more lately, thanks to Lorraine's exercises)
Today is "Angel Grandma's" Birthday! Angel Grandma is what Bruce will be calling Deanna's mom, Maritza. They already know each other pretty well, since only she could have picked this perfect little angel to send to us from heaven.
Below are some pictures from Church this weekend where we dedicated the altar flowers in honor of her for her birthday. Hasn't he gotten so big!?!
Last week was Deanna's last week of maternity leave!
We spent the Memorial Day holiday relaxing after a big weekend trip to Macungie, PA and Newark, DE for the Green Family Picnic (photos from the picnic to come).
The week was spent finalizing plans for child care, and after several interviews we are happy to report that we have hired a nanny to take care of Bruce in our home during work hours. Bruce's nanny is a nice woman from the area named Lorraine. They are having fun getting to know each other :)
Friday morning we woke up with a surprise. It was 5AM and we still had heard no peep from Mr. Bruce. Our worry turned to joy after checking that, yes, in fact, he was just fine, sleeping away in his crib. So that marked Bruce's first official "sleeping through the night". Unfortunately, he has not repeated the act since (still requiring a 3-4 AM feeding), but we'll get there.
Friday morning Lorraine came to the house to get acclimated with Bruce's schedule, activities (yes, 3 month olds have activities!) and where things are around the house. And we spent the afternoon with Kate and Nate Beck for another walk along the Old Dominion and Washington Trail. This time our walk was cut short by the regular rain storms hitting the DC area this season. We'll miss these walks but look forward to spending more time with the Beck's.
Friday night we enjoyed a nice dinner with Uncle Rich and Aunt Lisa to celebrate their 1-year anniversary. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GUYS!!
Here are some photos from the past week and we've got the videos rolling again on You Tube. Enjoy!
Bruce asleep on Dada's chest
Brucito with his Sleep Sheep
This is from about a month ago, but we'll catch up soon. Enjoy~
